Room air conditioner front



May 23, 1967 E. s. WEGMAN ROOM AIR CONDITIONER FRONT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 26, 1965 m :4 T S W T r e V E WITNESSES: awucff 5 ATTORNEY y3, 1967 E. s. WEGMAN 3,320,871

ROOM AIR CONDITIONER FRONT Filed July 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UnitedStates Patent 3,320,871 RGOM AIR CONDITIONER FRONT Evert S. Wegman,Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation,Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 26, 1965, Ser.No. 474,615 8 Claims. (Cl. 98--94) This invention relates generally toroom air conditioners, and in particular to a front assembly thereforhaving an improved air directing arrangement for the conditioned airoutlet.

The object of the invention is the provision of an air directingarrangement for a room air conditioner front in which the arrangement,performs the conditioned air directing function satisfactorily; isadapted to high production and relatively low cost fabrication andassembly; is sufficiently strong for its intended purpose; is suited tovariations in appearance to accord with the requirements of providingdifferent models; and, presents a pleasing appearance.

The gist of the invention resides in the provision of a single tiltabledeflector for controlling the vertical path of the conditioned air, withthe deflector being pivotally supported at its ends by yieldableconnecting means which urge the deflector downwardly to maintain it incontact with a fixed wall extending forwardly between the air outlet andthe lower air inlet of the room air conditioner. From this nucleus ofthe invention stem certain other advantageous features which will bedescribed along with other advantages, in the following.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing byway of example wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partly-broken isometric View of an air conditioner frontaccording to the invention and in which the tiltable deflector is shownretracted;

FIG. 2 is a reduced scale isometric view showing the tiltable deflectorin its vertical position;

FIG. 3 is a partly broken, top view of the front assembly with thedeflector in a vertical position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section corresponding to one takenalong the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, illustrating the center connection ofthe deflector and frame;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partly-broken, exploded isometric viewillustrating the deflector end connection elements; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section corresponding to one takenalong the line VI-VI of FIG. 3 illustrating the adjustable vanesupporting arrangement and further showing in broken-line outline therange of positions of the deflector.

Refering to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front 10 of the air conditioner issuitably secured to the room-side face of the air conditioner casing 12.The front generally includes a peripheral molding 14 encompassed by theforward edge of the casing, and has forwardly-projecting opposite sidewalls 16 and 1S and a forwardly-projecting bottom wall 20. Both theright side wall and a part of the bottom wall 26 include openings 22 toadmit room air to be conditioned to the space immediately behind thefront panels 24 and 25 and forwardly of the front face evaporator 26which forms the entering air inlet of the air conditioner. The controlarray is concealed in a separate area behind the slidable panel 24.

The conditioned air outlet is located in the upper portion of the frontand extends substantially across the width of the air conditioner. It isbounded along its top by the molding 14, along its bottom by fixedhorizontal wall 28 projecting forwardly to separate the upper and lowerportions of the front (this wall 28 being substantially hidden by thedeflector 30 in FIG. 1) and at the sides by the upper portions 32 and 34of the opposite end walls 16 and 13, respectively, of the airconditioner front. These upper portions 32 and 34 forming the side wallsof the outlet are of double-wall construction so that thermal insulatingmaterial may be fitted between the walls to reduce condensation on theirouter faces. Left and right ganged sets of directional vanes 36 and 38,respectively, are mounted in the outlet and are adjustable fromside-to-side to control the horizontal deflection of the air passingthrough the outlet.

The deflector 30 is pivotally carried at its ends so that it may bemoved upwardly and forwardly from its FIG. 1 position, where itgenerally underlies the vanes 36 and 38, to its FIG. 2 position Where itsubstantially hides the vanes when the front is viewed in elevation.When the deflector is in its FIG. 1 position, the conditioned air mayflow generally horizontally into the room without any verticaldeflection thereof. In the FIG. 2 position, the conditioned air isdeflected upwardly. Lesser degrees of vertical deflection are alsoavailable by positioning the deflector in intermediate positions.

As may be seen in FIGS. 3-6, the skeleton frame between which the vanes36 and 38 are supported includes the top molding 14 and the upstandingand then forwardly-directed flange 42 on the rear edge of the fixedbottom wall 28. The individual vanes are pivoted at top and bottom inthese members 14 and 42 by pins 46 and 48 (FIG. 6). A central vane 44(FIGS. 3 and 4) is stationarily supported between these same members byvirtue of being an integrally molded part of the front assembly. Thecenter of the deflector 30 is pivotally and slidably connected to thestationary vane 44 through a pair of rearwardly-projecting flanges 56)carrying a plastic pressfit pin 52 extending through the vertical slot54 in the stationary central vane.

The deflector 30 is generally of a shallow U-shape in longitudinalsection and includes a main wall poItiOn, also designated 34], having anarea dimensionally generally coextensive with the area of the outletopening, and left and right end walls 56 and 58 are normal to the mainwall portion 30. The deflector is nested in the fixed walls about theoutlet with its end walls inside and in closely facing relation with theoutlet side walls 32 and 34. outwardly-projecting pivot pins 68' and62'on the outer faces of the end walls 56 and 58, respectively,

extend into square niches 64 and 66 (FIGS. 3 and 5) provided in theinner faces of the double-walled side walls 32 and 34. The left wallniche 64 is shown in FIG. 5 while the right wall niche 66 is shown inFIG. 3.

Each niche receives a non-corrosive material ribbon spring 63 (FIG. 5),designed by another, having a free end formed into a loop 70 whichreceives a pivot pin,

60 or 62 on the end of the deflector. An inwardly bowed leaf spring 72,also designed by another, is press mounted on each end wall 32 and 34below the niche in a shallower recess '73. The spring convex surfacefrictionally engages the outer face of the respective deflector end wall56 or 58 to add stability to the deflector in any of its adjustedpositions. The subject of these springs is treated more fully inSchwartz copending US. patent application Ser No. 474, 614, theinvention of that application and of this application being assigned toa common assignee.

The top and end edges of deflector main wall 30 are flanged to form theinwardly-open channels 76, 78 and 80 along its top and each of its endedges. These channels serve as tracks which receive the correspondingedges of a decorative panel 82 which may he slid upwardly into itsinstalled position from below when the deflector is tilted to arearwardly-inclined position.

Examples of several of the positions to which the deflector 30 may betilted are illustrated in FIG. 6. There the deflector is shown in solidlines in its vertical position and in broken-line outline in otherpositions. Its horizontal position underlying the vanes is indicated bythe letter A, an intermediate forwardly-inclined position is indicatedby the letter B, and a rearwardly-inclined position (permitting theinstallation or removal of the decorative panel 82) is indicated by theletter 'C.

The desired tiltable movement of the deflector 30 is permitted by virtueof the downwardly-biased, pivotal, yieldable connections at the ends ofthe deflector. With the exception of the end limits of the range ofmovement of the deflector as it is tilted, the bottom edge of thedeflector is maintained in contact with the upper surface of the bottomwall 28 separating the air inlet and outlet. The contact between thebottom edge of the deflector and top face of the wall 28 serves both tostabilize the position of the deflector in its various positions throughthe frictional engagement and also tends to prevent the leakage of airbetween these members when it is desired that the air be deflectedvertically to a greater or lesser degree. The downward biasing of thedeflector in its various positions is principally provided by thesprings 68 which, in their substantially unstressed condition, havetheir loops 7 adjacent the lower front corner of the niche. However, theloop can be forced upwardly, as the deflector is tilted, along theforward edge of the niche as indicated by the double-headed arrow line84 of FIG. 5. Flexure of the springs occurring upon upward displacementof the loops results in the springs exerting a corresponding downwardforce upon the deflector. To provide additional stability for the centerpart of the deflector main wall in its guided motion, the slot and pinconnection between the flanges 5i) and stationary vane 44 are provided,these elements being aligned with the deflector end pins, and the springloops.

Experience to date makes it appear that with the arrangement describedherein the deflector is stable in any of its normally desired tiltedpositions (excluding position C of FIG. 6 which is assumed for the solepurpose of removal or installation of the decorative panel). Further,audible chattering of the deflector caused by the high velocitydischarge of air has not been experienced.

The deflector is preferably molded as an integral, onepiece, plasticelement and as such may be easily assembled to the front frame in thefollowing manner. With the decorative panel 82 not in place, thedeflector is bowed forwardly from end-to-end and first one deflector endpin is inserted in its spring loop, and then the opposite deflector endpin is inserted into its loop. Then the center part of the deflector isreleased so that the center flanges 50 move backwardly into a positionaligning the slot 54 in vane 44 and the holes which receive the pin 52.Then the button end is snapped onto the pin to secure the flanges andvane. The deflector panel is then moved to its C position (FIG. 6) andthe decorative panel 82 is slid upwardly. To insure retention of thedecorative panel in its tracks a thin resilient pad (not shown) may beglued along'lower front marginal portion of the deflector main wall.

Some of the more-subtle advantages of the arrangement according to theinvention will now be noted to insure their appreciation. First, thedeflector may be positioned as a single member to take care of allvertical deflection requirements, thus avoiding the necessity of amultitude of individual vertical deflecting vanes. Save for a fewelements, such as the springs 68 and 72, substantially all of the frontstructure may be of a molded plastic which characteristically islight-weight, of relatively low cost in high production quantities, andprovides excellent resistance against deterioration. During off seasons,and frequently during operating periods, the deflector will be in itsvertical position substantially hiding the horizontal vanes, which areconsidered by some to detract from the decor of a room. By providing thedeflector with a downwardly-open track on its front face to receive thedecorative panel 82, the edge of the deflector presented to the roomwhen the deflector is in its horizontal position is of a finishedcharacter. For certain stripped models, the decorative panel may bedeleted, and in the deluxe models the opposite faces of the panel can beprovided with alternate decorative patterns. Thus the front is subjectto being used in models of graduated cost without substantial changes.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a room air conditioner:

means defining an upper conditioned air outlet including opposite endwalls and a bottom wall;

a unitary vertical air deflector including a main deflecting portion,and right angle end portions nested within said opposite end walls ofsaid outlet in facing relation; and

means pivotally connecting said deflector ends to said outlet end wallsfor adjusting said deflector in tiltable fashion between a horizontalposition overlying said bottom wall and an upright position, saidconnecting means biasing said deflector toward said bottom wall andbeing yieldable in an opposite direction to accommodate said tiltableadjustment with said deflector frictionally engaging said bottom wall.

2. In a room air conditioner of the character having a lower room airinlet and an adjacent, upper, conditioned air outlet:

vertically-disposed, opposite end walls extending forwardly from saidoutlet and a lower, fixed, horizontal bottom wall extending forwardlyfrom said outlet to separate the space in front of said air inlet andoutlet;

a number of individual vanes in said outlet and adjustable fromside-to-side to control the horizontal air pattern, said vanes beingspaced from said bottom wall;

a single vertical air deflector including a main wall dimensionallygenerally coextensive with said air outlet area, said deflectorincluding integral end walls normal to said main wall and located inclosely facing relation with said outlet end walls; and

means pivotally mounting said deflector at its ends for tiltablemovement between a horizontal position overlying said bottom wall ofsaid frame and below said vanes, and a generally vertical positionforwardly of said vanes, said means pivotally mounting said deflectorends to said outlet end wall includes connecting means urging saiddeflector ends downwardly but yieldable upwardly throughout the range ofsaid tiltable movement to accommodate said movement while normallymaintaining the lower edge of said deflector in contact with said outletbottom wall.

3. In a room air conditioner according to claim 2:

said deflector includes integral end walls normal to said main wall andlocated in closely facing relation with said outlet end walls; and

said means pivotally mounting said deflector ends to said outlet endwalls includes connecting means urging said deflector ends downwardlybut yieldable upwardly throughout the range of said tiltable movement toaccommodate said movement while normally maintaining the lower edge ofsaid deflector in contact with said outlet bottom wall.

4. In a room air conditioner according to claim 2:

a stationary, vertically-disposed central vane aligned with saidadjustable individual vanes;

means pivotally connecting the center portion of said deflector mainwall to said central vane for guiding said deflector in said tiltablemovement.

5. In a room air conditioner according to claim 4:

said connecting means include rearwardly-directed normal flange means onsaid deflector main wall, said flange means carrying a cross pinengaging a vertical slot in saidcentral vane.

6. In a room air conditioner according to claim 2:

said deflector main wall includes a vertically-open track on its forwardface adapted to slidably receive and retain a decorative panel therein.

7. In a room air conditioner according to claim 6:

said vertically-open track includes inwardly-open channels along the topedge and opposite end edges of the forward face of said deflector mainWall to receive said decorative panel from a position below saiddeflector.

8. In a room air conditioner according to claim 3:

said outlet end walls including inwardly-open niches formed in the innerfaces thereof; and

said connecting means include outwardly extending lugs carried by saiddeflector end walls and connected to spring means carried in saidniches.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Reeves 98-40Halbeisen 62-262 X First 9894 X Dangauthier 9840 X

1. IN A ROOM AIR CONDITIONER: MEANS DEFINING AN UPPER CONDITIONED AIROUTLET INCLUDING OPPOSITE END WALLS AND A BOTTOM WALL; A UNITARYVERTICAL AIR DEFLECTOR INCLUDING A MAIN DEFLECTING PORTION, AND RIGHTANGLE END PORTIONS NESTED WITHIN SAID OPPOSITE END WALLS OF SAID OUTLETIN FACING RELATION; AND MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID DEFLECTOR ENDSTO SAID OUTLET END WALLS FOR ADJUSTING SAID DEFLECTOR IN TILTABLEFASHION BETWEEN A HORIZONTAL POSITION OVERLYING SAID BOTTOM WALL AND ANUPRIGHT POSITION, SAID CONNECTING MEANS BIASING SAID DEFLECTOR TOWARDSAID BOTTOM WALL AND BEING YIELDABLE IN AN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TOACCOMMODATE SAID TILTABLE ADJUSTMENT WITH SAID DEFLECTOR FRICTIONALLYENGAGING SAID BOTTOM WALL.